Ellen DeGeneres left the US for the UK with her wife, Portia de Rossi, to begin her “retirement” immediately after her career collapsed due to allegations that she created a toxic workplace on her show. The couple settled in England after putting their Montecito mansion on the market in response to the 2024 US election results.

However, insiders now reveal that the pair had already planned to leave the States behind long before Trump was declared victorious in the election.

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The real reason behind DeGeneres leaving the US

An insider revealed to the Daily Mail: “Make no mistake about it. This is DeGeneres and Portia’s retirement. None of them have projects set up.” The source added: “Ellen really felt she had made her mark in the industry, but this was diminished when she was axed due to the alleged treatment of her staff. Then it was so painful that the stars were calling her out one by one.”

A second source confirmed that the change in public attitudes towards her, along with the election results, forced the talk show heavyweight to flee the country. The second insider told the press: “For all the ill will towards her, she was looking to remove herself even before the election. And as things have gone with Trump’s win, she’s glad she’s making this move and being away from the US.”

They continued: “She has the one person who still loves her, Portia, and she’s ready to leave everyone who in her mind left her out to dry. If she considers it her retirement, so be it.”

The source added: “Much of the US dislikes her because of her sexual preferences and others have been turned off by her character, which some perceived as fake following the workplace allegations. For Ellen, it’s easier to walk away from her problems than to face them. It seems like a sad end to what was once in people’s minds.”

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DeGeneres and Portia’s new place in England

DeGeneres and Portia settled in the Cotswolds, a picturesque region in the south-west of England, about 100 miles from London. Known for being a celebrity hotspot, the area is home to stars such as David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and King Charles, among others. The Cotswolds offer a quiet, rural retreat, attracting high-end people looking for a quiet escape from city life. They previously moved to Montecito, Californiafor the same reason, further indicating their preference for a quiet life away from big cities.